WESTERN CAPE – A tip-off led to the arrest of a suspect who was caught transporting more than R 9 Million worth of abalone on the R45 Simondium Road yesterday, 10 November 2021.

The Hawks Serious Organised Crime Investigation team together with Crime Intelligence, K9 Unit Boland and officials from the Department of Forestry Fisheries and Environmental responded to information about a truck transporting illegal abalone on the N1 highway. The truck was kept under surveillance and was later stopped and searched.

The team seized 30,520 units of dried abalone with an approximate valued of R 9 Million.

The abalone was found hidden in false compartments.  One suspect, aged 26 was arrested. The truck and abalone were seized for further investigation.

The suspect is expected to appear in Paarl Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 14 November 2022 to face charges of possession and transporting of abalone.

Source: South African Police Service